In the fictional short story “A Worn Path”, written by Eudora Welty, provided a significant theme of love between a grandmother and her grandson. Also, the theme of determination was presented throughout the story. The main character, Phoenix Jackson, was an old woman who was determined to get to town to receive some medicine for her grandson, and she was allowing nothing to stop her. For example, by Phoenix being an old woman, she did not let her age or obstacles stop her from doing what she was determined to do. In “A Worn Path”, Phoenix Jackson shows a theme of love and determination as she faces conflicts of man vs. self, man vs. man, and man vs. nature
First, the man vs. self is a conflict presented throughout the story. The love and determination that Phoenix had for her grandson are what motivated her to get through the obstacles; therefore, she was determined to get medicine for her grandson because she was the only person her grandson can depend on. Phoenix mentions, “We is the only two left in the world” (Welty). Welty wanted to show that any person can make it through any life obstacles if he or she has the love and determination. Furthermore, racism was another conflict because during those
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times race was an issue. As Phoenix Jackson continues her journey, she meets a white hunter who helps and patronizes her. Then, he threatens her by pointing his gun at Phoenix trying to scare her. Welty presented that in her story to show how race took part between whites and blacks. The last example of man vs. self is guilt. Guilt took place when Phoenix picked up the nickel that slipped out of the pocket of the hunter. Second, man vs. man was a major ideal of conflict in this story. The story takes place during an era when racism was still present. In the story, the first clue of racial conflict takes place as Phoenix meets a white hunter. According to the story it states, “The white hunter lifted his gun and pointed it at Phoenix. She stood straight up and faced him. Doesn’t that gun scare you? He said, still pointing it. No sir I have seen plenty go off closer by” (Welty). Referring to those lines, the white hunter pointed his gun at Phoenix, and he kept calling her grandma or granny throughout the story; therefore, the white hunter has no respect towards the old African American woman by not calling her by her name and pointing his gun towards her. The story also mentions, “She’s was also referred to as a charity case as she enters the office to pick up the medicine” (Welty). Even though Phoenix faced many conflicts throughout her journey through the trail and town, she was still determined to get the medicine for her grandson. Third, man vs.
nature is another ideal of conflict in this story. Phoenix Jackson was determined to continue her journey on the Natchez trail, a trail that is challenging for an old woman. As it says in the lines, “The path ran up a hill. Seem like there are chains about my feet time I get this far” (Welty). Referring to those lines, Phoenix hassles with her old age and nature. In the story, it mentions, “She passes through an old cotton field and dead corn” (Welty). While Phoenix was passing through the fields, she approached a scarecrow and thought it was a ghost. After she found out it was just a scarecrow, she started to dance with it. Phoenix approaching a scarecrow and thinking it was a ghost suggest that she is an old woman who eyesight is
deteriorating. In conclusion, Phoenix Jackson faced many obstacles along her journey but managed to rise above all of them. Also, the conflicts in this story show the love and determination of Phoenix character. Phoenix determination motivated her to get through the obstacles. Additionally, the love and hope for her grandson is the only thing that keeps her from giving up throughout her journey.
Her trip is full of obstacles, from bushes of thorns that get caught in her dress, to her crossing of a creek. These elements complicate the conflict and increase the readers' curiosity about the plot. Phoenix can't trust her eyes, choosing instead to walk along with her eyes closed and sense her way with the help of her cane. While needed rest forces her to stop for a while, she has a vision of a little boy handing her a slice of marble cake. So many questions arise in the minds of the readers. Who was the little boy? Is she halluci...
“A Worn Path” is a short story written by Eudora Welty. It is a story of an elderly black woman’s journey into town for her grandson’s medicine. Using lots of imagery throughout the story, the narrator tells us that the woman, Phoenix Jackson takes this dangerous journey out of love for her grandson who is in need of medicine. Throughout her journey, she encounters many people who are of great importance to the story.
22). The imagery of the clock gives a visual image of Phoenix unsteady walk and partial reasons why she carries a cane. After reading the first two paragraphs of A Worn Path one might wonder why is an elderly woman in such conditions out in the cold. Not until further along in the story does the author go into depth of the character’s reasoning for traveling out in the cold. In spite of Phoenix’s condition and old age you see her determination in paragraph three. In paragraph three she demands any obstacles or troubles that may try to come along her path to move out of her way because she has a long ways to go. The story goes into description of the pathway the woman is following; along the way she may have had little hope or faith until, “Down in the hollow was the mourning dove-it was not to late for him.” (Weltz, 1941, p. 22). Doves have many significant symbols and in paragraph four the dove symbolized hope for Phoenix. This symbol may have encouraged the woman that she still has time. We also learn in this paragraph that the reason Phoenix is traveling this pathway is to help someone she cares
Phoenix Jackson had a vivid description painted for herself by the author. Phoenix was a small and frail elderly Negro woman. She wore a red rag tied upon her head holding up her yet black, curly hair that fell into ringlets. Upon her, she wore a long and dark striped dress with an equally long apron over the top of it. Upon her feet were untied tennis shoes. She always carried her thin and small cane with her, which was actually an umbrella. Her old eyes were blue with age, and her skin had become a pattern of numberless branching wrinkles. By being able to create a vivid picture of Phoenix, the author has allowed a connection between her character and the reader where the reader can now comprehend Pho...
When Phoenix’s “fingers slid down and along the ground under the piece of money” (4), she shows the reader how desperate she is to get the medicine for her grandson.
There are also mental obstacles that obstruct Phoenix’s journey. She has to triumph over her weariness because of her old age and her mental fatigue. As she is walking her mind plays tricks on her, such as the time when she is in the field and mistakes the scarecrow for a dark mysterious figure that she is frightened of. Another time is when she talks to herself and the animals in the woods. She tells them not to get in her way because she has a long trip ahead of her. The love that one person gives to another is never truly appreciated until the recipient realizes what that person has actually done. The grandson may be too ill or even too young to realize what his grandmother is doing for his safety.
In “A Worn Path” colors are used to emphasize the depth and breadth of the story, and to reinforce the parallel images of the mythical phoenix and the protagonist Phoenix Jackson. Eudora Welty’s story is rich with references to colors that are both illustrative and perceptive, drawing us in to investigate an additional historical facet of the story.
It’s December when Phoenix starts on her journey to Natchez and it is a journey she has taken many times before. This journey is no journey an elderly and weaken person should have to make by themselves, yet Phoenix does. She does not allow her age or her condition to keep her from it. Deep through the pines, the path takes her, and her first task would be to make it over a hill that seems to take all her energy and strength. “Seems like there is chains around my feet, time I get this far…” (Welty 5), here the reader can tell Phoenix does not have the strength that she really needs to make it up the hill. Yet somewhere she finds the will to keep pushing on and moving forward. This same type of spirit that allows Phoenix to keep pushing forward in society, and not to back down. Showing the younger generation that you have to fight your way through to a brighter day. It is later down the path that Phoenix comes to a creek and the only way to get across, is by walking on a log. Phoenix walks across this log with her eyes close. Once across she opens her eyes and says, “I wasn’t as old as I ...
In the modern short story, Eudora Welty clearly develops Phoenix Jackson as a main character who indirectly manipulates other people. Phoenix, as the speaker in “A Worn Path” holds the status of an old Negro woman who continues the everyday cycle of life. Although, in reality, Phoenix is an average human being, who feels she must be rewarded for living. Phoenix believes that humanity owes her something for the troubles she encounters throughout her lifetime. When Phoenix says to the hunter, “that’s as far as I walk when I come out myself, and I get something for my trouble” (paragraph 46).
One example of the theme of determination in this short story is all the obstacles that Phoenix Jackson encountered. Because Phoenix is so determined to get the medicine for her grandson, she goes through every obstacle with spirit. The following quote depicts many of the obstacles Phoenix encounters on her way:
...ation. As Phoenix continues down her path, she runs into many hindrances that must be overcome. Sykes believes“Phoenix [considers racial] conflicts are just stones in the road, obstacles in the path” (np). Eudora Welty writes this story to tell of the maltreatment of blacks and to bring this issue into the light. She uses subtle and obvious symbols to prove how blacks have been treated throughout life and how many have just considered the obstacles in their path of life just like pebbles they need to pass on the road.
Phoenix's precarious journey may seem dangerous, but her determination is what carries her through the obstacles she faces as she makes her way through the woods. Phoenix makes her way across the worn path and discovers many active opponents. She continues forward over barriers that would not even be considered a hindrance for the young. The long hill that she takes tires her, the thornbrush attempts to catch her clothes, the log that Phoenix goes across endangers her balance as she walks across it, and the barbed-wire fence threatens to puncture her skin. All of these impediments that Phoenix endures apparently do not affect her because she is determined that nothing will stop her on her journey. She keeps proceeding onward letting nothing deter her determination. ?The hunter(tm)s attempt to instill fear in Phoenix, a fear she disposed of years ago as she came to terms with her plight in society, fail (Sykes 151). She ?realizes that the importance of the trip far exceeds the possible harm that can be done to her brittle ...
Although I feel as though there are many literary elements throughout this short story such as characterization and theme, I also feel as though symbolism is very important as well. First of all, I believe that the name Phoenix in itself is symbolic for the type of person the old woman truly is. A Phoenix is a mythological creature who dies in fire and rises from ashes only to be stronger. It is as though all of these hardships only make the old woman more determined to complete her journey successfully.
In Eudora Welty’s, “A Worn Path” Phoenix Jackson went great lengths risking her own life for her grandson, who couldn’t help himself. On her worn path she faced the world with courage. Although she faced difficulty in her early life, her faith remained the same to help those who were dear to her heart. She walk a worn path relentlessly facing obstacles along the way with a mind that is diminishing overtime. Through the problems that she is faced with, she remains humble. She is admirable because considering her old age, weakness and loss of memory, she is determined. Welty’s details of character, symbolism, conflict and theme creates a compelling and fierce Phoenix Jackson. The moral message in this short story is to show the setting and characterizations
Several literary items are repeated throughout this short story. The repeated themes are love, perseverance, racial prejudice, and redemption. Phoenix makes a long painful journey in order to obtain medicine for her grandson simply due to the fact that her love for him is so strong. The theme of perseverance is displayed when Phoenix travels to Natchez despite being treated as less than those she encounters, not only does she continue traveling but not a single complaint leaves her lips. Phoenix continues to persevere during this long journey, because she loves her grandson and knows that his suffering will end for a short while after the trek is complete. Not only does Old Phoenix endure physical pain she also experiences racial prejudice. The author does not tell us that all of the people Phoenix